nokia

Nokia's latest firmware update (version 20.0.005) for its low-end touchscreen smartphone, the 5230, includes the following improvements:

• Kinetic scrolling is included in the main menu
• Ovi Sync has been added to the desktop
• Music player is improved
• GPS allows for faster fix on your location
• Some of the existing apps have been updated
• Other performance and stability improvements

The update is available over the air (OTA) or by connecting the 5230 to your computer through Nokia Software Updater program.

Nokia has released a new entry-level cell phone in India, called the X2. It's a simple quad-band GSM S40-based handset that offers some of the manufacturer's signature features, such as a 5Mpix camera, Nokia Messaging with a built-in Facebook feature, and Ovi services, including Nokia's Comes With Music service. It will be available in Q2 2010 in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as well as Latin America and Canada.

Just for your entertainment, here's an HD video captured with a Nokia N8. I must say I'm impressed, though it would be nice to hear the original audio track of this sample. Enjoy, and don't forget to watch in HD:

While it's just a render with a Nokia logo on it, we hope the pictured Nokia C2 with a split-horizontal keyboard will be brought to reality some day. The image remings us of the MOTOSPLIT, which also features a dual side-sliding keyboard. Known features of the C2 include 320 x 240 display and a 2Mpix camera, but you can be sure it's not a smartphone.

Nokia has delayed the launch of its Symbian^3 and ^4 OS's. The Symbian^3, which is a major improvement over the S60 5th Edition (Symbian^1), will be available sometime in Q3 2010; the first device to run it will be announced next month. The Symbian^4 will only be introduced next year. Apart from that, Nokia has cut the prices for its smartphones by 10%.

Nokia has added a new hue to its E72 smartphone. The official 'White Edition' model comes bundled with a BH-216 Bluetooth headset and WH-205 wired headset, and is now available for purchase worldwide for around $330.

Behold the full specification sheet for the upcoming flagship Nokia N8, originally posted on Unwired View. As you can see, the phone supports all known 3G bands, and for some reason has a relatively small amount of memory.

Nokia N8 specifications:

• 12Mpix camera with f/2.8, 28mm wide angle Carl Zeiss optics, and Xenon flash; dedicated camera key
• 720p video recording at 30 frames per second
• Face recognition
• HDMI output with battery rated at 6.

Nokia's E71 and E66 now feature support for Ovi Maps. The software, which provides free walk and drive navigation with turn-by-turn guidance was included in the latest firmware update, so upgrade your handset if you haven't done so already. The US-flavored E71x is not eligible for update.

The software is available now from Nokia.

The unannounced Nokia C3 has recently been approved by the FCC. There's no info about this model yet, though apparently it's a cheap enty-level featurephone with a QWERTY keyboard. Launch and availability details are also kept secret, but well be known after the official announcement along with the exact specs.So far there are two known Cseries handsets, but expect to see lots of these over the course of the year.

The unannounced Nokia C3 has recently been approved by the FCC. There's no info about this model yet, though apparently it's a cheap enty-level featurephone with a QWERTY keyboard. Launch and availability details are also kept secret, but well be known after the official announcement along with the exact specs.So far there are two known Cseries handsets, but expect to see lots of these over the course of the year.